XXL Celebrates Def Jam’s 25th Anniversary in November Issue

 •  XXL Magazine  •  by XXL Staff  •  53 Comments

In celebration of Def Jam’s quarter century in the music business, XXL has selected a handful of the label’s roster, past and present, to grace the cover of the November issue.

XXL’s new issue will include memorable tales from the MCs about the famed label, along with a complete discography of Def Jam releases and a comprehensive timeline of the brand’s biggest moments. Behind the scenes masterminds, Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles sit for the first time to share their memories and Rick Rubin also takes a look back at the legacy of Def Jam.

Other features in the issue include stories on Clipse, Kid Cudi, Birdman, Juvenile and B.G.

XXL’s November issue hits stand on October 27. –Elan Mancini

Click image to enlarge

Tags:

  • a.k.

    I guess I should write 1st.

    • infanous850

      why the fuck isn’t LL slick rick ain’t on here

  • ty

    i guess i should write 2nd… thats if im really second….

  • http://www.justice.gov.za GO-Getta’

    Guess i should also mention that Death Row, Bad Boy,No limit,So So Def & honour mention 2 Rawkus were 1nce hip-hop record label powerhouse.

    Only Ca$h Mone w/ Young Money seems 2 b heading in that direction now.
    Rather go indie if u ask me,Record labels now sucks

  • Pingback: Rap Radar :: Def Jam Covers XXL (Nov. 2009)

  • SOUTHSIDE A-TOWN

    true that. record labels suck, they could give a fuck about the ‘artist’ himself. & wtf? is warren g doing on that bitch.?

    • Gerv

      Warren G was on Def Jam and I believe had a gold album bruh.

  • Pingback: First Look: Def Jam Covers XXL Magazine’s November Issue « Crook From The Brook

  • Pingback: Def Jam Covers November Issue of XXL | OnSMASH

  • http://www.billykincaid.com Billy Kincaid

    Warren G’s first 2 albums were released under Def Jam.

  • Fireforreal

    I think Defjam has had the most STARS on there lable compared to any lable in history. Having Slick rick,LL cool j,Public enemy,The beastie boys alone make you a force because how many lables can say they have or have had legends ? it’s easy to say what there not as well as all these other lables,but Defjam was the blueprint of what a hip hop lable should be.

  • General

    Warren G did move a lot of units for Def Jam back in the mid 90′s with his first CD. I think these artists were a good pick for the cover

  • Pingback: Nah Right » Def Jam Covers XXL (Nov. 2009)

  • Vic De Zen

    Def Jam has been a force to be reckoned with from day one! Big labels do suck, but for some reason Def Jam has had a lock on hip hop and a formula that nobody can beat. I think their biggest days were back in the late 90′s. When they had numerous multi plantinum albums in the span of a year at most two:

    Method Man Tical 2000
    Redman Docs Da Name
    Ja Rule Venni Vetti Vettci
    Jay-Z Hard Knock Life
    DMX It’s dark and Hell is Hot
    DMX Flesh of my Flesh Blood of my Blood
    Onyx-Shut Em Down

    That’s only half of the albums I could recall from that time that went plantinum or more in teh span of one year or a year and a half (98-99) and all Def Jam.

  • Pingback: No Jay-Z, Kanye West, DMX Or LL Cool J………

  • Pingback: XXL Celebrates Def Jam’s 25th | 2dopeboyz

  • http://youtube.com/federalranga Federal Ranga

    Wont front. Solid cover. Def Jam is the brick house of record labels.

  • Pingback: Def Jam Covers November Issue of XXL « You Heard That New

  • Pingback: Rasha Entertainment » Def Jam’s 25th Anniversary in XXL November Issue

  • Pingback: Lyrically Acclaimed » Blog Archive » 25 Years of Def Jam

  • http://XXLMAG.COM IAMHIPHOP

    DAM!LL COOL J MUST REALLY HAVE A BEEF WITH DEF JAM.HE BASICALLY BUILT THE LABEL AN J SANTANA IS IN THE FRONT.THAT IS SAD SITUATION .LL DESERVES MORE RESPECT THAN THAT.PEACE!!!

    • Curtis75Black

      Maybe It’s XXL beef with Him !!

    • http://xxlmag jb

      yea I was thinking the same thing. LL should be on the cover! Slick Rick too. and how about Russell Simmons? Rick Rubin?

    • BGZ

      Word! LL and the Beastie Boys!

      Love to see ‘Face on the cover, though.

  • http://www.myspace.com/emcdlthemusicprofile EmCDL

    Damn I haven’t even read the October issue yet…

  • Pingback: Def Jam Covers November Issue of XXL «

  • latino heat

    good concept XXL. come on though, Ross and Juelz on the cover but no LL, Slick Rick, DMX, Jay-Z? get the fuck out of here.

    is it just me or does PMD look kind of sickly?

  • Pingback: Celebrity-Gossip-Inside-Out.com » Blog Archive » XXL Celebrates Def Jam’s 25th Anniversary in November Issue

  • TonyTastic

    You guys messed this up, it could’ve been good, what are/are you thinking?

  • Pingback: Def Jam Covers XXL Magazine (Nov.) : DEF PEN RADIO 71.8

  • Brooklyn

    ll should definitely be on the cover, he basically made def jam the powerhouse that it became, and slick rick should be on there too, he was also instrumental in making def jam what it is today.

  • $ykotic/Don McCaine

    I agree Slick Rick & LL should have been on the cover. Even Chuck D, but it’s still cool.

  • Pingback: » Def Jam Covers XXL (Nov. 2009)

  • iknowgoodmusic

    Luda couldnt even get a spot on the cover?

  • Pingback: Brooklyne Gipson » Blog Archive » Look it!

  • brand-new

    it woulda been cool to see 3rd bass on the cover too

  • Pingback: DEF JAM COVERS NOVEMBER ISSUE OF XXL « TheSoundBuzz

  • ApolloKid551

    People saying that other lables should give a front page of the xxl is wrong, this is about the history of one of the longest running hip-hop lables in history, now i dnt care 4 Def Jam at this moment either but u cant ignore the impact they had on not only Hip-Hop but pop culture as a whole, when those other lables make it at 25 then they will have their shine, now LL Cool J, he doesent at this point want 2 be asscioated with hip-hop which is sad, when Def Jam gave him ownership of his masters & publishing in 2004 people should have seen this coming hes worth more then ever so he doesent wont anything 2 do with Def Jam, even when he was bitching about Jay-Z they offer him Jay’s position in 1993 but he turned it down so he felt disrecpected & blame Jay & Def Jam 4 not pushing his last 2 records when he could have done that himself he has the capital he owns his music so after all that went dwn, thats why he wasent at the Hip-Hop honors or the Def Jam 25 anniversary cover shoot, hes doing CSI now remember that…

  • Pingback: Def Jam’s XXL Cover « A Shot of Incilin

  • Pingback: Def Jam Covers XXL (November 2009) - FINDtheSHIT

  • Pingback: [Throwback Video] Onyx Ft. DMX - Shut ‘Em Down - HipHop Lives! Stupid…

  • MikeD

    Yeah yeah so and so should’ve been on and so and so wasn’t but ONYX IS ON THE COVER OF XXL. Truly this is a great day in Hip-Hop, glad to see the team is still making dope moves.

    Now I’m goin to listen to Slam until I get a concussion.

  • Chris S

    wow…if all those artists are on def jam now (which iu;m assuming they are)…they suck

  • DV8

    No Ludacris, No Public Enemy, No Jay-Z, No Ja Rule and Irv Gotti, No LL Cool J, No Slick Rick, No DMX, No Kanye, No Rutthhheelll, Lyor, or Kevin?
    Wow !!!!

    If Scarface is on there then WC should be on there (both dropped only 1 dope as fuck albums on DefJam)

    So whats next a Interscope cover with No Tupac (yes I know, im just sayin), Suge Knight, or Snoop Dogg?

    What about a Rawkus cover with no Pharoahe Monch, Mos Def or Talib Kweli?

    Im sorry but yall dropped the ball on this one.

  • George Clooney

    This is like you guys just did the Motown Anniversary cover and only had DeBarge, Tony! Toni! Toné, Boys II Men, Michael McDonald, Queen Latifah and Ashford & Simpson on that shit.

    Apart from the obvious R&R, LL, Slick Rick, PE, Beastie Boys, DMX etc fail, you telling me you couldn’t find T La Rock to jump on this shit? You’ve only featured artists from the second generation on. Where’s the artists that BUILT Def Jam?

  • http://www.yahoo.com Streets Is Watchin

    no maroon album cover on the cover?? Failure….

  • BeerGangsta

    It’s about time that Def Jam get props. Been in business for 25 years. Back then it was roling with Rush! XXL made a Big mistake for not putting the best Def Jam Rappers on the cover.

  • Anonymous

    YO IM LOOKIN’ FOR INFO ON THE BLAZIN ASS MODEL ON PAGE 4. THE HIGH YELLOW MALE MODEL HOTTIE IN THE SOUTH POLE AD. I WANT TO GIVE THIS MU F@#$$%&^ A DAUGHTER ON SOME G SHIT. WHO IS THIS DUDE????

  • http://www.guysgarage.com garage storage ceiling rack

    Thanks for your insight for the great written piece. I am glad I have taken the time to read this.

  • http://www.guysgarage.com tool boxes for utility trailers

    Thanks much for the great document. I am glad I’ve taken the time to learn this.

  • http://www.guysgarage.com garage floor tiles

    Thank you for the great content. I am glad I have taken the time to see this.

  • http://www.guysgarage.com weatherguard tool boxes

    Thanks much for the great document. I am glad I’ve taken the time to learn this.

  • http://www.guysgarage.com garage cabinets home depot

    Appreciation for the great blog post. I am glad I have taken the time to learn this.